NZ Herald
February 13, 2004

New sex claims in police scandal


Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum

Two of the police trio accused of raping Louise Nicholas are now at the centre of sexual allegations from another woman.

Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton are under investigation for allegedly pack-raping Mrs Nicholas in a police house while they were serving officers in the 1980s.

Last night, another woman came forward and said Mr Schollum had sex with her while Mr Shipton watched.

The woman told One News that she was a schoolgirl on work experience with police in the 1980s when the incident occurred.

The woman, who did not want to be named, has now lodged a formal complaint with police.

One News said the woman, who was around 16 at the time, has sworn a detailed affidavit that Mr Schollum seduced her.

"I went to do some work experience with the police. I wanted to be a policewoman and through the school we were put in touch with certain people for our chosen career. I would go out with the police on a night shift. I think I went three, maybe four, times," she said.

The woman claims Mr Schollum invited her to go out on patrol but then seduced her in a police house.

She said Mr Shipton walked in the room and said he was going to join in. The woman said Mr Shipton watched them have sex for a while and then left.

"I told them I wanted to leave while I was still in the bedroom and they sort of tried to talk to me about what happened and not to say anything to anybody," she said.

Last night, a police spokeswoman said the woman's allegations would be looked at by the inquiry team dealing with Mrs Nicholas' allegations.

A woman at Mr Schollum's house hung up on the Herald last night.

Neither Mr Shipton, nor the lawyer acting for both men could be reached.

The inquiry was announced last week after Mrs Nicholas went public, saying her allegations against Mr Schollum, now a Hawkes Bay car salesman, and Mr Shipton, a Tauranga bar-owner, had been covered up.

Mrs Nicholas also accused Clint Rickards, now an Assistant Commissioner, of being involved in the group sex where she claims she was was violated with a baton.

The men accused by Mrs Nicholas all have vehemently denied the allegations. Mr Rickards has been stood down on full pay while the claims are investigated. The Government has also ordered an urgent Commission of Inquiry into Mrs Nicholas' allegations, Prime Minister Helen Clark saying she wants it to look into the wider culture in the police.

Southern police Superintendent Nick Perry is heading the criminal investigation into the historical rape allegations.

Mr Perry leads a team of 13 police staff.